title: In situ synthesized low modulus biomedical Zr-4Cu-xNb alloys.
abstract: In order to develop new biomaterials for hard tissue replacements, the Zr-4Cu-xNb (x=0, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9) biomedical alloys with required properties were designed and prepared using vacuum arc melting method for the first time. Phase analysis and microstructure observation showed that all the as-cast Zr-4Cu-xNb samples consisted of α-Zr and Zr3Cu. In addition, the lamellar eutectoid is found near the grain boundary. These alloys exhibited moderate compressive strength (1150-1300 MPa), yield stress (750-1000 MPa), favorable plastic strain (19%-27%), high elastic energy (11 MJ/m(3)-16 MJ/m(3)) and low Young's modulus (25GPa-31GPa). This good combination of mechanical properties indicates them potential biomedical materials for biological hard tissue replacements.
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, PR China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Yongzhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chenghuang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009556:Niobium / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D009556:Niobium; D003300:Copper; D015040:Zirconium
keywords: Biomaterials; Hard tissue replacement; Mechanical properties; Microstructure; Zr-4Cu-xNb alloys